Rapper Ja Rule Leaves NY Prison in Gun Case

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) - Platinum-selling rapper Ja Rule has left an upstate New York prison after serving most of his two-year sentence for illegal gun possession, but is heading straight into federal custody in a tax case.

U.S. Marshals escorted the 36-year-old out of Mid-State Correctional Facility at 9:30 Thursday morning. It wasn't immediately clear where he'll serve time in the tax case.

The rapper, who had been in protective custody because of his celebrity, has some time remaining on a 28-month sentence for tax evasion.

His lawyer says Ja Rule, whose real name is Jeffrey Atkins, may have less than six months left and may be eligible for a halfway house. An order to pay $1.1 million in back taxes is one of the main reasons he wants to get back to work.

Copyright 2015 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Online Public Information File

Viewers with disabilities can get assistance accessing this station's FCC Public Inspection File by contacting the station with the information listed below. Questions or concerns relating to the accessibility of the FCC's online public file system should be directed to the FCC at 888-225-5322, 888-835-5322 (TTY), or fccinfo@fcc.gov.